Hobbs State Park Combines Arbor Day and Spring Break Activities: Great Family Fun

Hobbs State Park begins celebrating Arbor Day this Saturday, followed by a week of guided hikes and family oriented events. Activities include:

Sat., Mar. 16th, 10:00-10:45 AM, 12:00-12:45 PM, 2:00-2:45 PM:

Arkansas Arbor Day Hikes:Celebrate Arkansas Arbor Day (Mar. 18th) by going on a kid-friendly tree hike with Park Interpreter Chris to learn more about the trees of Hobbs! The hike will be an easy half mile on the Ozark Plateau Trail, which is ADA accessible.

Sat., Mar. 16, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Learn about the famous Ozark chinquapin tree. Mr. Al Knox will have a collection of all things Ozark chinquapin: photos, burs, seeds, cookie, plank, Native American atlatl, etc. Mr. Al was part of the original planting crew of the Hobbs test plot for Ozark chinquapins. Come talk to Al about this wonderful tree.

Sat., Mar. 16th, 2:30-5:00 PM:

Basic Nature Photography Class:Join the Photographic Society of NW Arkansas for this free class presented by Jay Stout and Cleeo Wright. Bring your camera to learn tips and trick on how to better use its features.

Sun., March 17th, 11:00 – 11:45 AM:

Strolling on the Plateau:Do you know the destination of a trail? And just what is the Ozark Plateau? Join Interpreter Steve to learn more about your State Park.

Sun., March 17th, 1:00 – 2:00 PM:

Historic Van Winkle Hike:Join Interpreter Steve on an easy stroll through the Historic Van Winkle Hollow and learn about the Van Winkle mill, the largest in the state of Arkansas all through the 1870’s. The area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Meet at the Van Winkle trailhead.

Sun., March 17th, 3:30 – 4:00 PM:

Arkansas Symbols – Do You Know Them?Some of the symbols are easy, and others you probably have never heard of. Did you know we have a state soil and a State beverage? Join interpreter Steve to learn some of the symbols of Arkansas.

Mon., March 18th, 11:00 – 11:45 AM:

Strolling on the Plateau:Do you know the destination of a trail? And just what is the Ozark Plateau? Join Interpreter Steve to learn more about your State Park.

Mon., March 18th, 1:00 – 1:30 PM:

Ask Me Turtle questions:Join Park Interpreter Steve while you learn some interesting facts about our reptile friends. Why are there 5 toes on a 3-toed box turtle? There is an easy way to tell the difference between a boy and a girl turtle. Do you know the secret?

Mon., March 18th, 3:00 – 3:30 PM:

Venomous Snakes of Arkansas:Everyone who lives in Arkansas should be aware of what venomous snakes we have and what they look like. This short program identifies the 6 venomous snakes that we have in Arkansas, four of which are found in northwest Arkansas.

Tues., March 19th, 10:00 – 10:50 AM:

All Snakes Are Not Bad!Join Hobbs volunteer, Steve Kick, and learn how to identify and avoid snakes, how they contribute to our ecosystem, and hopefully develop an understanding and respect for them so we can co-exist.

Tues., March 19th, 1:00 – 1:30 PM:

Puffballs in the Sky:Is a cloud just a cloud? No sir! Clouds can tell us things. Clouds can do things. Do you know what thunder really is? Why do tornadoes form in clouds? Join Park Interpreter Steve to learn about our amazing clouds…puffballs in the sky.

Wed., March 20th, 10:00 – 10:45 AM:

Strolling on the Plateau:Do you know the destination of a trail? And just what is the Ozark Plateau? Join Interpreter Steve to learn more about your State Park.

Wed., March 20th, 1:00 – 1:30 PM:

Be a Nature Detective:Have you ever been on the trails and not seen an animal? Join a park interpreter as we learn how to look for clues about our native animals and figure out who left them. This mystery will be uncovered on our .25 mile paved trail and off the trail located at the visitor center.

Wed., March 20th, 3:30 – 4:30 PM:

Spring Bird Hike:Come and enjoy an afternoon hike in the Ozarks and listen for the sounds of spring migrants and other song birds. We’ll spend an hour exploring the Sinking Stream Trail looking for spring surprises of the feathered variety. Bring your own binoculars or borrow a pair of ours. Meet at the Sinking Stream trailhead.

Thurs., Mar. 21st, 11:00 - 11:30 AM:

Reptile Rap:Join a park interpreter for this fun and lively program, perfect for families with young children, as we learn about the reptiles of Hobbs State Park. Be ready for an up-close encounter with a live turtle and a snake, and we’ll wrap up with the reptile rap!

Thurs., Mar. 21st, 2:00 - 2:45 PM:

Signs of Spring Hike on the Sinking Stream Trail:Are you ready for spring?! Join a park interpreter on this easy half mile hike as we discover the signs of spring in the beautiful Van Winkle Hollow area. Meet at the Sinking Stream trailhead.

Fri., Mar. 22nd, 10:00 – 10:45 AM:

Signs of Spring Hike on the Sinking Stream Trail:Are you ready for spring?! Join a park interpreter on this easy half mile hike as we discover the signs of spring in the beautiful Van Winkle Hollow area. Meet at the Sinking Stream trailhead.

Fri., Mar. 22nd, 2:00 – 2:45 PM:

What Lives in Little Clifty Creek?Celebrate World Water Day with Park Interpreter Chris by exploring Little Clifty Creek along the Historic Van Winkle trail. With dip nets and kick seines we’ll catch insects, snails, crawdads and other aquatic macroinvertebrates, and who knows what else?! Learn how the critters can tell us if the water is clean or polluted. Meet at the Historic Van Winkle trailhead, and bring rubber boots or waders if you have them.

Sat., Mar. 23rd, 11:00 – 11:30 AM:

Reptile Rap:Join a park interpreter for this fun and lively program, perfect for families with young children, as we learn about the reptiles of Hobbs State Park. Be ready for an up-close encounter with a live turtle and a snake, and we’ll wrap up with the reptile rap!

Sat., Mar. 23rd, 1:00 – 1:45 PM:

Signs of Spring Hike on the Sinking Stream Trail:Are you ready for spring?! Join a park interpreter on this easy half mile hike as we discover the signs of spring in the beautiful Van Winkle Hollow area. Meet at the Sinking Stream trailhead.

Sat., Mar. 23rd, 2:30 – 3:15 PM:

Kermit and Friends: Amphibians of Hobbs State Park:It’s not easy being green and slimy! Learn more about our amphibian friends, the frogs, toads and salamanders, with Park Interpreter Chris. After an indoor introduction, we’ll check out the ponds near the Visitor Center and see what’s hoppin’! Learn how you can help monitor frog populations, which have been declining, by participating in Frog Watch, a nationwide community science project.

Sun., March 24th, 11:00 – 11:45 AM:

Strolling on the Plateau:Do you know the destination of a trail? And just what is the Ozark Plateau? Join Interpreter Steve to learn more about your State Park.

Sun., March 24th, 12:30 – 1:15 PM:

The Ozark Chinquapin Tree:Learn from Park Interpreter Steve why this rare tree, once common in the Ozarks, is so important and what we are doing at Hobbs State Park to try and save it.